Catherine Arley - 801 (08/09/2011)

Before yesterday, I'd only seen pictures of Catherine Arleys and since I own over to 50 holograpic lacquers including 25 OPI Designer Series, 10 China Glaze OMGs, 11 Tronicas and a hand full of Color Clubs and Kleancolors, I don't get too excited anymore but behold Catherine Arley - 801 in all of its chartreuse golden jelly goodness.

Color Description: Can a lacquer be holographic and jelly at the same time?  Well, Catherine Arley figured away to combine the two and I'm thankful to have this in my collection.  Again, I would consider this a golden chartreuse with scattered holographic prisms in a jelly finish.

This Look:  Two coats of lacquer with no topcoat!

Similar To:  This is a very unusual holographic lacquer but also very similar in coloring to Kleancolor Holo Yellow.  If you can find the Kleancolor around this may satisfy a lemming for Catherine Arley 801.  However, the Kleancolor has somewhat of a frost finish to it.

Availability: Catherine Arley is manufactured in Turkey and can be purchased on the web, however, I've had no success getting a response from the online distributor.  So glad I got this in a swap!

 One last pic for the road!  Have you heard of Catherine Arley?  Which do you have in your collection?

iSwap: Nail Mail (08/08/2011)

I generally don't post my swaps but yesterday I received the last part of the largest most intricate swap I've ever experienced and thought it needed to be documented.  A lovely Englishwoman named Pennie at Conceptional contacted me about a swap about three weeks ago and here's what we came up with on my end:

Chanel Black Pearl, CA 801, CA 802

Clarins 220-Patient Pink, OPI Glacier Bay Blues, Golden Rose 105

NOPI Yellow It's Me, Orlane 92, Clarins 103-Pink Shimmer

I am so glad I did this because even though she's located in the U.S. it felt like an international swap!  Alrighty then, about to select one of the Catherine Arley's for today's mani.  Take care and what have you gotten in the mail lately or better yet, what are you waiting for?  It was once said that "anticipation is the purest form of pleasure" by Gustave Flaubert and I believe this to be so...  


Have an awesome Tuesday and remember, iSwap!  Check out my swap tab above for more information. :)

Forever 21's Love & Beauty - Coral (08/06/2011)

This post will be short and sweet!  Let me know you thoughts on this lacquer from Forever 21 - Love & Beauty Coral.

Color Description: The classic orange-red coral.

Price Point: $2.80 from Forever 21.

Similar To: A few in my collection are similar, including last weeks post.  Click here for relating posts.

Have a great Sunday! 

Milani - Hot, Hot, Hot w/ Accent Nail & OOTD (07/30/2011)

Experimentation was the name of the game today with my Milani Hot, Hot, Hot mani.  If you scroll through my previous manis you won't find one hint of nail art other than crackle or glitter, but I was totally inspired by the traveler's tank I found yesterday with a friend!  Aren't the colors wild?  I also found Hot, Hot, Hot yesterday and thought I'd wear them together.


Color Description: Milani Hot, Hot, Hot is a bright orange-red creme that is perfect for the summer.


This Look: One coat of Starting Over After Artificials then base color Milani Hot, Hot, Hot, then the accent nail consists of Milani Whitest White, Mood (turquoise) in Confident/Peaceful, FingerPaints (navy) in Cobalt Cardigan and Color Club's (dark yellow) I Always Get My Man-darin.  The manicure was then topped with Sally Hansen Mega Shine.  Fun, fun, fun!


Outfit:  I will wear this artsy tank with my navy blue Chico's necklace and a turqouise linen jacket and wide leg slacks.  Patent navy gladiator sandals will finish the look.


Similar To: Very close in hue to OPI's Tasmanian Devil Made Me Do It and others in my collection (click for previous review).


Have a great rest of the weekend.  I'm pretty tuckered out and need to get some rest but hope to hear from you soon. :)

OPI - Congeniality is My Middle Name (07/28/2011)

The many faces of Congeniality is My Middle Name (CiMMN)!  From picture to picture this beautiful lacquer from the upcoming Miss Universe Collection changes hue and finish.  I guess Miss Universe needs to be versatile and  OPI has done it again creating a lacquer that's fitting for the most lovely lady in the "universe".  WARNING: pic overload ahead (from dark to light).

Color Description: Described by OPI as a berry-wine shimmer, CiMMN is a darker in certain settings - very mysterious with micro glass-flecks for an effervescent look.  Reminds me of the purple raspberry that is best picked in early July.  Well it's late July and CiMMN is ripe for the picking ladies! 

Similar To:  There's no dupe in my collection though this put me in the mind of at least two lacquers I own: China Glaze Stella (is a frost and a bit darker but same hue) and Sephora by OPI Screen Test (a bit brighter with no flecks).  Congeniality is My Middle Name falls somewhere in between.

This Look: One coat of Starting Over After Artificials, three coats of CiMMN (two coats are sufficient but wanted a deeper berry color) and one coat of Sally Hansen Mega Shine.

Price Point/Availability: Some retailers have put this collection out a bit early (score!), but this "limited-edition [collection] will be available beginning August 2011 at Professional Salons, including Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA, for  $8.50 ($10.95 CAN) suggested retail for each nail lacquer."

Hope you like this lacquer as much as I do!  Which colors will you select from the Miss Universe collection? I, generally, don't watch the show but will you?

NAIL REWIND: Revlon - Gray Suede

Not sure how this NOTD missed out on being showcased but it definitely needs to get a look-see for all of you drug store divas out there!  On to the review...


Color Description: A beautiful grayed-out beige with a hint of rose and secret shimmer. A great professional looking lacquer that is accessible to most.


This Look: It's been a while but I'm almost certain I used my dynamic duo for this look of Starting Over After Artificials as a base and Sally Hansen Mega Shine as a topcoat with two coats of Gray Suede sandwiched in between.  The ring finger is accented with Best Sense #101 glitter.


Similar To: Puts me in the mind of one of my previous NOTD's, OPI Mod Hatter.


Price Point/Availability: Revlon's Gray Suede can be found at most drugstores and Target sells it for $3.74. The glitter is from a brand that is little known and the store I purchased this from has now disappeared.  Go figure?  Well, at least the Revlon is readily available. :)


So yeah, this was my mani about 4 months ago on 3/27/2011 and this is definitely one to have in your stash!   

Pink Wednesday: OPI - Crim-Sun

OTT Light w/ Light Box

Old-school holographic nail polish at it's best, OPI Crim-Sun is one of a kind.  This is from the 2003 Summer for Shore collection, of which I have two, Crim-Sun and Blue Moon Lagoon.


Color Description: I would say this is a hot-pink coral with a subtle holographic sheen with a bit of frost thrown in there for good measure.  Very unique to my other OPI DS lacquers.

Incandescent Lighting

Similar To: From various reviews, Crim-Sun is said to be dupish to the old Sally Hansen Nail Prisms in Coral Amber, which came out around the same time in '03.


This Look:  Decided to go 100% OPI on this mani and try out a new basecoat - OPI Acrylic Nail Base Coat.  Despite the name I'm using on my natural nails because it boast of having a "stain-resistant formula".  We'll see.  Then I have two coats of Crim-Sun and on coat of th OPI Designer Series topcoat.

Indoor Lighting w/ Low Flash

Price Point/Availability: This collection has been discontinued for over 9 years, however, it can still be found online.


Well, another Pink Friday mani down, what to wear next?  Maybe a something from the new Miss Universe Collection? ...or, one of the Serena Williams looks? We shall see... As always, thanks for stopping by and what's your next mani gonna be?